Christmas is a time of gathering, and the annual community Christmas Day barbecue in Alexandra creates space for people to celebrate together.

Held every year at St Enoch’s Church by the Alexandra Clyde Lauder Union Parish, there are already 80 people registered for the Christmas Day lunch, but there is always room for more.

Reverend Andrew Howley said everyone was welcome, but by registering online at www.alexchurch.org.nz/Christmasday ensures the volunteers will be well prepared. 

“We encourage everyone to register because we don’t want people to miss out.”

One Christmas Eve the team had to make a mad dash to the supermarket at the last minute, to buy more chicken for the barbecue kebabs, after a last minute influx of 20 people joined.

On the menu this year will be chicken and beef burgers, ham, sausages and salads, as well as pavlova and cheesecake.

The food is all supplied by the Alexandra Rotary and cooked on the barbecue by the Alexandra Lions.

Andrew said a number of families with children will be joining this year, along with older couples and widowers on their own, as well as single parents who were doing it tough after relationship breakups.

“And a lot of these people volunteer and help out too. It’s all about people, food and fellowship.”